Vladimir Putin may or may not have lost his grip on reality, but his desire to tighten his grip on Crimea is surprisingly logical if you consider the history and strategic importance of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. A closer look at Russia's forces along the southern Ukrainian coast reveals a lot of Putin's thinking.

The Black Sea is not a small place. It is roughly the size
of California, or about 60% larger than the Persian Gulf, and is bordered by
Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey. That being said, when
it comes to large naval armadas like an American Carrier Strike Group, it is
not exactly the Pacific Ocean. This is especially true considering that a Peninsula
at the center of this body of water is bristling with anti-ship missiles…
and they don't even belong to the country that they're based in.

Russia's sudden seizure of the land mass known as the Crimea,
a peninsula jutting out from Ukraine, just a stone's throw from Russian's
south western border, was startling to the west, but in all reality Russian
forces invaded what militarily seemed like their own stronghold.

A Short History Lesson

Historically
speaking, the Black Sea Fleet and its Sevastopol base date back 1783, and was
founded by Prince Potemkin. The Crimea Peninsula actually belonged to the Russians as far
back as 1954, at which time Khrushchev symbolically "gave" the landmass to Ukraine.

This gift of sorts had little consequence as Ukraine remained a
Soviet state until the dissolution of USSR back in 1991. When this occurred, a
severely weakened Russia was left having to share its naval fleet and bases in Crimea
with Ukraine, although command and control was still heavily lopsided in
Russia's favor. In 1997, the fleet was split 70-30% with Ukraine as a
settlement over ownership of once soviet military assets. As
part of this deal, Russia would have to lease its Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in Sevastopol
and its associated air bases, from Ukraine. The lease would run through 2017.

Russia's lease of multiple military installations in the Crimea was not much
of a problem until Vladimir Putin became more interested in wielding power over
the former Soviet Block state, all the while a major portion of the Ukrainian
population wanted much closer ties with Europe.

By the mid 2000's it was clear
that Russia's strategic lease that allowed the Black Sea fleet to remain in
Crimea would most likely not be renewed in 2017. Many in government at the time
saw the arrangement as more of a "soft occupation" than a strategically
beneficial agreement. The non-renewal of the Black Sea Fleet lease agreement
would not only require Russia to move the majority of its naval troops and
flotilla over to the eastern coastline of the Black Sea, but it would also mean that
Russia would no longer have a powerful, if not intimidating force, sitting
garrison on Ukrainian soil. Additionally, there have been some key discoveries
when it comes to energy deposits on the west side of the Black Sea, an
area that is readily accessible, if not potentially claimable, from the
territorial waters off the Crimea Peninsula.

In 2010, the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych would
see to it that Russia's strategic fortunes in the region change for the better. Under a highly
controversial deal, the lease of the Russian naval master
base at Sevastopol, and its associated air bases, would be extended 25 years,
with another five year option after that.

This long-term lease would be partially in exchange for a 30%
reduction in Russian natural gas prices for Ukraine. The execution of this agreement would mean that Russia would
continue having heavy naval firepower, attack aircraft, and a large maritime landing
force garrisoned in Ukraine potentially until 2047. This was a massive
strategic win for a reinvigorated Russia who's influence was rapidly expanding once again in
the region, whether it be by the carrot or the stick.

Then in a massive turn of events, just last month Yanukovych was ran out of the country as
uprisings gripped the Ukrainian capitol of Kiev, and began to spread to other
areas of the country. With Yanukovych's ouster from government, and his subsequent helicopter
escape to Russia, the Black Sea Fleet's long established home, one of higher
strategic importance than ever, was now almost totally at risk once again. Just
days later we saw the "invasion" of the Crimea Peninsula by Russian forces,
operating in an unidentified fashion throughout key strategic areas in the
semi-autonomous Ukrainian state.

Putin's Navy

Russia's foreign naval bases are seen by Putin as absolutely
key fixtures needed to revive the country's image as a world superpower. A
largely overlooked fact about the ongoing Syrian crisis was that Russia has
their only Mediterranean naval port in Tartus, Syria. Should Assad fall so
would Russian access to their port.

This would mean that the Russian Navy would be
hard pressed to operate at any sort of sustained tempo in the Mediterranean as
they would have to sail all the way to the northern reaches of the Black Sea
just to receive repairs, resupply, refuel and rearm. Hence, among other reasons, Putin's incredibly
strong support for the Assad regime.

The mainstream news often does not report
these simple rational motivators because they tend to overlook military strategy or capabilities, and
long-retired golfing generals are hardly a place to get the latest analysis on
such matters. Yet, the facts are clear, without Tartus the Russian Navy would
be all but locked out of having a sustained future presence in the Mediterranean.

When
it comes to Crimea, the motivation to keep the naval base in Sevastopol is as
great, if not greater, than those relating to Syria, but for very different
reasons. Mainly those being the ability to have a massive military "beachhead" on Ukrainian soil should Putin decide to annex the country in full, energy claims in the north west Black Sea Region, control of oil pipelines that crisscross the country, and as leverage to control the future of Ukrainian foreign policy. Then there is a "soft" rebuilding of the old Soviet Union that is clearly underway in the form of Russia's "Eurasian Union." Clearly Putin sees Ukraine as a western anchor to this historically eerie initiative, and the Black Sea Fleet is a means in which to defend that union in the future. In the end Putin clearly sees his foreign naval ports as an integral
military facet of his strategy for reintroducing Russia onto the world stage as
a super power, and thus he will not let them go without a serious fight.

Inside Sevastapol

The leased Russian naval port in Sevastopol is no coastguard station. Sevastopol is the center of gravity for the Black Sea Feet, with all of its heavy surface combatants and about 70% of the rest of the fleet based there. It houses a pocket armada of naval firepower and amphibious landing capabilities
that still represent a serious threat to anyone on Putin's unwanted list. Going off of the latest information and publicly
available satellite imagery, Russian forces in Crimea before Putin's shadowy blitzkrieg looked something like this:

You can see a lot of the same sources I used and learn more about these ships by clicking here, here, here and here, among other sources, along with the obligatory Wikipedia crosscheck.

1X Slava "Glory" Class
Guided Missile Cruiser: The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, this ship is one
of the most powerful surface combatants in the Russian Navy, only outmatched by
the borderline battleship-sized Kirov Class.

Slavas are often referred to as
"carrier killers"as they are packed with 16 massive and deadly SS-N-12 "Sandbox" anti-ship
missiles. These are very large cruise missiles weighing some five tons each. They are
capable of flying over 300 miles at speeds of up tp mach 2.4 and can deliver a
massive one ton armor piercing warhead onto their target.

The Sandbox was built
to be launched is salvos and is incredibly well networked considering they were
designed originally in the 1970s. The missiles work as a team during an attack, varying speed, altitude and approach vector to confuse and overwhelm their target's ability to defend itself. A deadly swarm of SS-N-12s can even pass along retasking or retargeting orders if a missile in the formation is destroyed or if their target set changes.

Additionally, these "carrier killers" were built to receive mid-course guidance updates from other SS-N-12s
or maritime patrol aircraft so that they can be fired far from their target's
ability to detect the launch ship. Simply put, these are large, fast and
deadly school-bus sized missiles, and are especially dangerous when employed in large numbers.

The Slava class also possesses a powerful ability for area
air defense and is outfitted with 64 S-300F, S-300FM "Fort" or S-300PMU "Gargoyle"
long range surface to air missiles.

These massive SAMs are capable of shooting
down everything from low flying cruise missiles, fighter-sized aircraft and even incoming ballistic missiles, even under intense jamming conditions. The
S-300 has a range of over 50 miles in its older S-300F configuration, and about 100
miles in their newer FM and PMU configuration. These missiles are launched via
a rotary vertical launch system implanted into the deck of the Slava Class
Cruiser. Additionally, close in air defenses are provided by a SA-N-4 "Gecko"
short range missiles and a gaggle of AK-630 precision aimed close-in
defense cannons.

Finally, the Slava Class also has 24 anti-submarine mortars
and 10 torpedo tubes, along with a 130mm multipurpose gun and a Kamov KA-27 helicopter
for over the horizon targeting, attack, and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare
duties.

1X Kara Class Large Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship: This old but proud beast was built to take the fight to American submarines with devastating effects. She is the
last of her kind and armed with 8 SS-N-14 "Silex" anti-submarine missiles. The
Silex is a massive high-speed delivery vehicle of death.

Weighing in at almost
four and a half tons, it can fly 25 miles from its launch ship at close to the
speed of sound, and assisted by external targeting, such as from a helicopter
or anti-submarine patrol aircraft, it can release its torpedo that will then
dive up to 1,500 feet below the ocean's surface to find its submerged target. The
Silex missile can also be used against surface vessels. The torpedo it normally
carries to attack submarines is switched out with a 400-lb shaped-charge
warhead. Once properly configured, the missile simply plows into its target and
let's its high explosive payload do the dirty work.

Then there are the Kara's twin RBU-6000 and RBU-1000 short
range anti-submarine rocket launchers for dealing with submerged threats up
close and personal. These weapon systems work by bombarding an enemy submarine with a massive salvo of actively guided
rockets packed with shaped charge warheads. The Kara class also has a KA-27
anti-submarine warfare helicopter and she also packs 10 533mm torpedo tubes
fitted onboard for good ship and submarine blasting excitement.

For air defense, the Kara Class also is equipped with the
SA-N-3 "Goblet" SAM system. These are basically rocket propelled telephone
poles that can take out bomber sized targets at over 30 miles from their launch
point. The Kara Class carries a whopping eighty of these vintage, but still
deadly SAMs. Also included in the ship's air defense are SA-N-4 "Gecko"
andAK-630 point defense systems. Finally
there are a pair of 76mm multi-purpose guns for targets that fall outside the abilities of the ship's already massive arsenal.

To
be blunt, this ship was made to kill things under the waves in mass and with
prejudice, if it sits on top of those waves or maneuvers high above them it can
also kill those targets as well, but its real passion in life is to implode western
submarine hulls. In an age where multi-purpose capabilities are essential for
justifying the cost of any large surface combatant, the Kara is a big hulk of a
dinosaur with very large, albeit blunt teeth.

1X Kashin Class Destroyer: Another oldie but goodie, the
"Smetlivy" is the last of her class and is currently active with the Black Sea Fleet. She
was upgraded in the 1990's with some new gear that would make her a relevant
naval player into the new millennium. She is equipped with eight modern SS-N-25
"Switchblade" anti-ship cruise missiles which are roughly equivalent to the prevalent
AGM-84 Harpoon missile in service with the US Navy and allied forces around the
world. The missile can be launched at over 80 miles away from its target and
skims the sea at high-subsonic speed. Once it is about to strike its target it can impact right above the target's waterline or it can pop up and attack from above, where a warship's armor is traditionally the thinnest. Additionally the Smetlivy is
equipped with SA-N-1 "Goa" surface to air missiles, five torpedo tubes, 2
RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers and a pair of AK-726 76mm multi-purpose guns. She
also packs a KA-25 or KA-27 chopper for multi-role anti-surface/anti-submarine warfare and logistical
duties.

2X Krivak Class Missile Frigate: Like much of the Soviet
Navy these ships are far from new and are approaching the end of their
usefulness, but they still pack four of the aforementioned deadly SS-N-14
"Silex" anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles. Beyond that they have SA-N-4
defensive anti-air missiles and four 76mm guns, along with a pair of RBU-6000 anti-sub
rocket launchers and a quartet of torpedo tubes. Usually Krivaks also sail with
mines onboard numbering in the dozens.

In fairly recent satellite imagery, one
of the Krivak Class Frigates appears to be upgraded to Krivak III configuration, as it lacks the 76mm guns on its stern and the Silex missile "quad pack" on its bow. In these systems place there is a single 100mm gun
and a helicopter operations area, hangar, and an embarked KA-27 chopper. These "Krivak III" configured ships are usually operated by the Border Guard so it is not clear if this ship
has replaced a standard Krivak Class frigate or just took its place
temporarily.

2X Nanuchka Class Guided Missile Corvettes: These fast
vessels are meant to sneak up on the enemy and launch their SS-N-9 Siren
anti-ship missiles. These missiles have a range over 75 miles and pack a
whopping 1,100-lb warhead.

2X Bora class guided missile hovercraft- These ships are
some of the newer vessels in the Russian Navy and move incredibly fast over the
water, reaching over 60 miles per hour when in attack mode. They also pack
an extremely perilous punch. Each Bora class sports eight mach three capable,
ramjet powered, SS-N-22 "Sunburn" anti-ship missiles. Once the Sunburn has has
its target locked up using its active radar seeker it drops down to just feet
above the waves and throttles up, hurtling into its target at around mach 2.5, leaving a
targeted ship with just seconds to react. Once it slices into its target's hull it
lets loose a 700lb explosive warhead. Oh, and it can do all this from well over
the horizon as it is capable of being launched some 80 miles from its target.
Although the Nenuchka Class is built around this deadly missile, it also has a
wide assortment of cannons and machine guns, as well as a close in surface to air
missile system for self defense.

1X Matka Class Missile Boat: Basically, this is ship is a
hydrofoil anti-ship missile launch platform that has great speed and endurance. She packs
eight highly capable SS-N-25 "Switchblade" anti-ship missiles and a 76mm main gun, as well as a small
assortment of smaller guns and close in defense systems.

5X Tarantul Missile Corvettes: These nasty missile boats can
pack a variable cocktail of anti-ship destruction including either eight
SS-N-25 "Switchblade" subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles or four extremely
deadly high mach SS-N-22 "Sunburn" anti-ship missiles, along with a 76mm gun
and assorted close in weapons systems..

One or Two B-871 Kilo Class diesel-electric submarines: Diesels are
quiet subs when running on their batteries, but the Black Sea Fleet's "Alrosa,"
is especially silent due to her pump-jet propulsion system. Her job is to ruin
surface ships and other submarines' day, especially when transiting shallow
waters, via her 18 533mm torpedoes and two dozen mines. Seeing as she has to be
near the surface in order to recharge her batteries, she is equipped with eight
SA-N-10 "Gimlet" shoulder launched surface to air missiles. These man portable
air defense systems (MANPADS) are not a good thing for a low flying
anti-submarine warfare aircraft that is trying to identify her while surfaced.

7X Large Amphibious Landing Ships: In addition to the armada listed above, the Black Sea
Fleet retains a sizeable beach landing capability seven large amphibious
landing and support ships, some capable of dropping 20 tanks directly on
the beach. This amphibious ship brigade is currently made up primarily of "Alligator" and "Ropucha" class landing ships.

7X Anti Submarine Corvettes: This force is made up of six "Grisha" Class large corvettes and one "Mukha" class hydrofoil. These ships carry torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets and mines, as well as a multi-purpose main gun.

12X Assorted Coast Patrol & Minesweeping Craft: The rest of the Black Sea Fleet is made up of about a dozen assorted craft, four of which are dedicated minesweepers, while the rest are various patrol and small logistics ships.

Black Sea Fleet Air & Ground Support Forces

Let's now move to the Russian assets on the Crimea Peninsula
that don't float in the water. Russia has deployed the K-300P coastal defense
missile system in unknown numbers to Crimea. This sucker is a road mobile
advanced anti-ship missile system and is said to be extremely effective and
resistant to countermeasures.

The missile can reach out over 150 miles and can
be targeted via external sensors. The missile itself is based on the SS-N-26 high
supersonic ramjet powered missile and approaches its target at around two and a
half times the speed of sound. Additionally, this missile has many modes to
tailor the attack profile best for the target type. Simply put, whether you are
a marine landing force, a frigate on patrol off the coast or carrier group, this
thing is scary as hell and hard to find and destroy.

The Russian Navy is also in the air over and around Sevastopol.
Located north of Russia's leased Black Sea Fleet headquarters is Kacha Air Base where the majority
of the Black Sea Fleet's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare aircraft and
helicopters are based. Around forty or so choppers are based there, with the
majority of these being the KA-27 "Helix" type, some of which deploy with
the fleet. Also, larger Mi-14 "Haze" anti-submarine helicopters are stationed
here for long range patrol duties, although they may be in the process of being retired. There are also about another dozen or so
Mi-8 "Hip" transport choppers on hand for logistical and troop transport
duties.

Additionally, about a dozen medium transport aircraft live at this
field, including AN-12 and AN-26 models. Finally, for long range sea control
and search and rescue missions, the aging Beriev-12 flying boats still soldier on here, although they
may have started replacing them with the more capable IL-38 "May." The Be-12s have not been able to land on the water for some time due to the lack of seals on their weapons bay doors and other apertures.

Russia's aerial capability on the Crimea Peninsula does not
end with "just" some anti-submarine helicopters, dated flying boats and a couple dozen logistical support aircraft. No, Russia has yet another layer of
anti-ship missile and targeting capability in the Crimea, this being a squadron of partially upgraded
swing-wing SU-24/M/MRs based at Gvardeyskoye Air Base near the center of the autonomous Ukrainian
state.

These "Fencers" belong to the Russian Navy and are capable of
carrying a wide selection of attack munitions, including laser and TV guided
bombs, and of course, more anti-ship missiles! In fact there is a wide variety
of these types of missiles for the Fencer mission planner to choose from,
including the mach 3 Kh-31 or subsonic KH-59M.

The Fencers can also provide
limited air to defense if need be, although they would be little match for any
modern fighter aircraft. The SU-22MR version is a high-speed reconnaissance
aircraft that can infiltrate its target area at low level using the SU-24M's terrain
following radar and includes panoramic cameras, a side-looking radar (SLAR),
and an infrared line scanning system.

Finally, shock troops are also part of the Black Sea Fleet,
including a full Naval Infantry Brigade. Russia's Naval shock troops are
roughly analogous to US Marines, and the Brigade based in Sevastopol consists
of close to 3,000 troops and are quite capable. Here is a breakdown of sub-ubits within the 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade:

880 Separate Naval Infantry Battalion

881 Assault Battalion

888 Reconnaissance Battalion

1613 Artillery Battery

1619 Air-Defense
Artillery Battery

382 Infantry Battalion

So What If The U.S. Wanted To Confront Russia?

It is absolutely clear that Russia's surface combatant
element of Black Sea Fleet is highly focused on a single goal: Surviving so that it can deny potential enemies access to the northern part of, if not the
entire Black Sea. The sheer number and variety of Russian anti-ship missiles on
that Peninsula is jaw dropping.

Virtually every major Russian asset in Crimea
carries standoff-range anti-ship missiles, from a cruiser level all the way
down to their fast attack corvettes and littoral patrol ships. Not to mention
the road-mobile advanced ASM units, land-based ASW and ASuW helicopters and
aircraft and the fleet's SU-24 attack jets. Layers upon layers of anti-ship and
anti-submarine defenses can be deployed, with little notice, from Sevastopol and
throughout the peninsula's mainland.

Beyond this incredible anti-surface and
sub-surface warfare ability, the Black Sea Fleet's anti-air capability is
fairly robust, with multiple surface combatants supplying various tiers of area
and point air defenses. In addition, there is a capable land-based Russian
air defense unit at the ready as part of the 810 Separate Naval Infantry Brigade. Simply put, almost the entire non-infantry based
Russian detachment in the Crimea is focused on either detecting and rapidly
engaging surface and sub-surface targets at various ranges, some of which are
extreme, or defending itself against aerial bombardment.

Seeing as an American or NATO flotilla would have to sail
through the narrow Bosphorus strait (and no the particulars of the Montreux Agreement
is not worth diving into) and into the mouth of the Black Sea, such a mission
would be perilous while a conflict or even extreme tensions were underway vis-a-vis
Russia.

Yes, American Carrier Strike Groups, or even small US Destroyer or
Cruiser centric flotillas, are very capable at defending themselves, but having
the Black Sea fleet let loose a full on anti-ship missile barrage on a US
naval strike group would certainly end in burning hulls with tattered US flags blowing in
the wind. You forfeit your ability to surprise your enemy when you have to float
slowly through the center of Istanbul to get to your area of operations. The the narrow Bosporus strait creates a "fatal funnel" for even the most advanced warships to survive and attack from. Since there is only one way in or out of the Black Sea for heavy ships, the mouth of Bosporus on the Black Sea Side would become a shooting gallery for the Black Sea Fleet as US or NATO ships emerged from the strait. Remote targeting would not even be necessary as visual spotters could call in the ship's position and Russia's anti-ship missile arsenal could be set on "fire and forget." In this mode the missiles will kill any surface contact they detect within a certain pre-planned geographical area.

The Black Sea Fleet may be
a dated hodgepodge of vessels of various vintages, but the weapons they pack
are numerous and primarily aimed at overwhelming a capable enemy's
defenses. Remember, all it takes is a few "squirters" to break through a
flotilla's layered defenses, ending in a multi-billion dollar, ultra-modern warship
floating down to the seafloor.

Operating in an enclosed body of water like the Black Sea is
nothing new to the US Navy, as they have operated in a similar manner for
decades in the Persian Gulf. What is different is that we were not facing the
massive blunt hammer of Russia's military in that region. Additionally, during
even a limited conflict with Russia, the US Navy would be secluded from operating in the northeast area of the Black Sea, as that region could be quickly fortified with
advanced coastal anti-ship missile emplacements and extremely dangerous long range air
defense systems.

With all this in mind, one of the only ways I believe the US Navy could
operate in mass with any margin for safety in the Black Sea would be to
preemptively strike the Russian Black Sea Fleet before entering the region, a
move that could also potentially start World War III. Another option would be to stay out of the Black Sea in full, and use standoff naval weaponry and an aircraft carrier's air wing to conduct operations over the Black Sea at long ranges. The reality is that a Navy's most potent weapon is simply "being there" as a prod for resolving foreign policy issues and as a reminder of what the consequences of failing to do so could entail. This is something that airpower is less effective at and the psychological effect is diminished when such a flotilla is forced to operate literally an ocean away from the hotspot in question.

Another final would be to get a carrier strike group, or at least some Destroyers and Cruisers, into the Black Sea right now, as it may catch Russia off guard. Once they are in there they are at risk of confronting the Black Sea Fleet directly, along with Russian warplanes operating out of its own territory on the Black Sea's eastern seaboard. Such a move would almost certainly end with a buildup of NATO land based aircraft on Turkey's northern boarder to support such an action if it were to be sustained. Although this move could be made without shots being fired, it would end with a ton of opposing military hardware operating within a fairly confined space. Such a situation, especially if it occurred over a long period of time, would be quite volatile to say the least.

Currently, there are two US Navy ships that may still remain
in the Black Sea after the end of the Olympic Games. The first is the aged
frigate USS Taylor, which is laid up in the northern Turkish Port of Samsun, and
the massive command and control ship USS Mount Whitney. The USS Mount Whitney is an ideal asset to have in the region, as its situational awareness and intelligence gathering abilities are unparalleled, but it is almost totally defenseless.

In fact, both of these vessels
are all but defenseless against a barrage anti-ship missile attack, relying only
on electronic and physical countermeasures and the Phalanx Close In Weapon
System (CIWS) to repulse such an onslaught. The rumor is that they will soon be joined
by one or two Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers, potentially the USS Truxton
and/or USS Donald Cook (UPDATE: USS Truxton Sails Through Bosporus Strait). Often times, two AEGIS ships are required in a single hot spot
at one time, as one can provide ballistic missile defense while the other
searches for air-breathing threats. The AEGIS system cannot currently do both
tasks at the same time. If these US guided missile ships, some of the most
deadly in the world, do indeed enter the Black Sea, it's a safe bet that Russia
will see this as a direct threat and will deploy even more capable and heavy
hitting TU-22s armed with the near hypersonic KH-32 anti-ship missiles to the
region.

These US ships, and the ones already in the region, are in
effect sailing into what could become a anti-ship super missile engagement
zone, the likes of which the world has not seen for decades. Should the current
Cold War like rhetoric turn into a shooting war, something that can happen in a
blink of an eye, these US Destroyer's AEGIS combat systems may be tested like
never before in what could be a dire fight for their own survival.

While the U.S. may be able to put pressure on Russia through economic and diplomatic measures, and it can also send some strategic signals, of which a US armada churning through the Bosporus Strait would be about the largest one possible. None-the-less a battle in the Black Sea is extremely unpalatable if not horribly catastrophic when put into a geopolitical context.

The DoD will be sending additional fighters to the Baltics, and possibly Poland, to beef up the…
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Although Putin's action have been bold to say the least, we have not seen the massive military buildup and reinforcement of strategic and tactical units that we should expect to see from someone who is planning for a wider conflict. In fact, the best conclusion we can draw from Russia's current order of battle in the region, with the Black Sea Fleet as its centerpiece, is that it mirror's the Kremlin's policy for the region: HANDS OFF AND KEEP OUT!

Now we will just have to see if Washington heeds this warning...

Photo Credits: AP, WikiCommons: Black Sea Map: Morgan Einstein, Bora Class: Cmapm, Matka Class: Vissarion, TU-22: Alex Beltyukov, Missile Launch: Russian Navy. CIWS firing and Destroyer Lineup: US Navy. And a huge thanks to Ivan Voukadinov for sharing is great shots from his base visits to the Crimea before all this went down! For more of Ivan's work please click here.